A Human-Centred View of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships Operations Using the SHELL Model

A Human-Centred View of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships Operations Using the SHELL Model

The concept of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) has existed for decades and is advancing rapidly as a result of developments in artificial intelligence. Despite these technological advancements, human involvement remains essential to ensure safety and reliability. This study applies the Software, Hardware, Environment, and Liveware (SHELL) model to develop a human-centric framework for examining the integration of human elements with intelligent and automated technologies in MASS. The framework considers software, with particular attention to regulatory aspects; hardware, including general system and sub-system architecture; environmental factors, including both natural and artificial, as well as dynamic and static elements; and liveware, which refers to human interaction with advanced MASS systems. This structured methodology establishes an initial basis for future research on identifying critical aspects arising from the interaction of human and machine in complex MASS operations.